Drift Sound 1

My journey started at my apartment in River West. I began to walk the route I would normally drive by in my car until I came to my first destination: The River. I basically slid down the muddy hill (behind the new freshman dorm next to North Ave) to a walkway/bike path that ran along the river. I explored different areas and heard a dripping sound coming off of a gutter drain on the above bridge. The water fell down in a constant light stream and would alternate hitting the puddle underneath and nearby pebbles with the gusts of wind. Click here to hear the sound of water droplets falling.

Drift Sound 2

I decided to split my drift walk into two separate drift walks. My focus is on water, through the magical melting process of Spring. On my way up the muddy hill to continue my walk, I heard another water sound. Looking around, I noticed water running down a deep drain from a nearby melting snow bank. I slipped my microphones through the grate and down into the drain about 6 inches. I was pleased with the full sound of the water that was made by the isolated drain. Unfortunately I do not have a picture. Click here for the sound of water flowing down the drain.

Drift Sound 3

I continued my walk to my second destination, The Lake. Before walking down to the beach I stopped and placed my microphones on the sidewalk to record the sound of cars driving through puddles. I thought the sound was interesting, reminded me of a firework first shooting off, or maybe a long distance gun shot.
I also liked that my theme of water, due to melted snow in this case, was continued with this sound. I unfortunately do not have a picture to portray this sound, instead I included a picture of the sunset from the beach that I found lovely. Click here for the sound of cars passing over puddles.

Drift Sound 4

I walked along the beach listening to the water and watching my step. I came to an area where the waves had carved out what looked like a small bay. The waves would bring in thin slates of ice and mini icebergs. This is a picture of the small slate-like pieces of ice that compacted and pressed together at the waters edge. The sound is of the ice sheets being pushed together by the constant waves. You can also hear a slight gurgle from a nearby water hole in the background.

Click here to listen to the ice sheets.

Drift Sound 5

I continued to walk down the slushy beach to another part of the waters edge where there were ice mounds frozen over large rocks. At the meeting point of sand and water, holes had been carved in the ice by the constant lapping waves. This is a close up of the ice hole where water was gurgling up and out. I ended my 2 hour drift walk a short time later.

Click here to listen to the water gurgle through the hole in the ice

Drift 1 Start Point

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Drift 1

For my Drift 1 Strategy I have chosen two specific spots where I can access the two main bodies of water in Milwaukee: The Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan. I will be walking to both of the sites but recording sounds that I hear only within the chosen water regions. My walk on foot is a route I would normally take in my car to drive down to the Lake. I thought the experience on foot versus car of the same route would allow heightened experience and would prove interesting.